Cambodian Foreign Minister: ASEAN should continue to lead efforts to help Myanmar return to normalcy

Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, Mr. Sung Kindah, at the general debate of the General Assembly

He stressed the importance of creating an environment conducive to dialogue and ceasefire negotiations, the provision of humanitarian relief and the need for a political process owned and led by Myanmar in order to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation.

Strengthen cooperation and advocate multilateralism

Sung Kindah said that peace is a prerequisite for sustainable development. He called for greater global cooperation and multilateralism to address global challenges.

He pointed out that the current global situation is grim, with escalating conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar and other places, and increased geopolitical tensions, which may trigger regional and even global wars at any time.

He called for the use of peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve the dispute. He stressed that the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law were the cornerstones of global cooperation.

He said Cambodia opposes unilateral sanctions because they have a severe impact on ordinary people and hinder the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

He said Cambodia plans to achieve sustainable development by building human capital, deepening economic diversification, improving the efficiency of public services, promoting gender equality and environmental protection, with a view to graduating from the list of least developed countries by 2029.